Sereno: Impeachment complaint 'funded by a formidable machinery'

Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Thursday claimed that the impeachment complaint against her is "funded by a formidable machinery."

Speaking at a forum at University of the Philippines Diliman, Sereno noted the "ever-expanding score" of the impeachment complaint originally filed by lawyer Larry Gadon, which the House of Representatives Committee on Justice approved earlier this week.

"Now, the complainant and his enablers are endeavoring to bring up imagined trespasses committed by me as early as when I was just 26 years old and starting my career here in UP," she said.

But asked by reporters to elaborate in an ambush interview, Sereno declined to make further comment.

Sereno is accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

At the forum, Sereno, who is currently on leave as she prepares to defend herself in a possible Senate impeachment trial, said she has pushed for "dignity to be observed" amid the attacks against her.

"After all, it is the highest magistrate’s office that is being attacked, more than a person," she said.

Sereno encouraged women to lead the "call to reason" amid a chaotic environment.

"I would like to make a special call that I would like to make today, and that is how women should lead the call to reason in an increasingly chaotic, noisy and confused world," Sereno said.

The top magistrate said women, especially mothers, have a special role to play in fighting such attacks.

"They can block out the noise, they can focus on what is really at stake... our constitutional rights and framework of governance,"  she said.

"Women can focus, focus and focus and get to the bottom of things. We cannot be distracted, our energies cannot be dissipated, we know the real picture and understand what is at stake," Sereno added.

Despite strong calls for her resignation, Sereno has maintained that she will not quit from post and she is ready to face the accusations against her before the Senate.

Sereno has also insisted that an impeachable government official, like her, may only be ousted from power through impeachment as stated in the Constitution. A quo warranto petition has been filed against her by the Office of the Solicitor General seeking her ouster over her alleged failure to supply her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth before being appointed Chief Justice. —JST, GMA News